Brookes Bus Journey Planner

I mentioned at the end of the previous post that you can use your Brookes Bus pass to get you discounted travel on other central Oxford bus services. Stagecoach, the managers of Brookes Bus charge 70p for a student single. The lesser known fact is Oxford Bus Company currently charge only 60p when a pass is shown. Two sets of doors, and an unmistakeable less claustrophobic feel are among their aesthetic features. I've no idea how widely known this be - Oxford Bus Company don't advertise it on their buses. Stagecoach aren't obviously talking about it, and perhaps because of that, the fact isn't widely talked about by Brookes. The only mention is given on one of the Brookes website pages (requires log-in) and referred to in a crazed gambling session by blogger AndyLuke over on the Brookes Livejournal community.

Bombardment by the sound cannons of Fox Fm is a regular punishment on Brookes Bus. Every location has a Fox FM, a local commercial radio station that generates its income from distribution and advertising with all the charm of a sex pest bringing Christmas gifts to the very old and very young. Just like any noisy neighbour though you can ask Brookes Bus drivers to turn the noise down. I've seen this happen, and tried it myself, with a 100% success rate...oh about six or seven times. That was over the summer, so why not talk to and tell the driver you've talked to other passengers. It might just be worth the glowing smiles on the faces, and the small patter of applause. I don't care how much you love Phil Collins, he will help fuck up your degree.

I'll write more about the bedding arrangements of Brookes, Stagecoach and Fox Fm in another post next week.

Harcourt is a lovely campus, its just a victim of particularly dull grounds design and serious windchill at the bus stop area. A state of the art bus shelter with doors and everything please, oh alright, stick a coffee machine in there. Just make sure its fair trade, OY and that means no Coke machine ! Its best to assume the Sunday-stance when journeying to Harcourt - make a note of the bus times, show up six minutes early (Thats Oxford Mean Time 9-5m), and Brookes Mean Time (-1m)
You're standing atop Harcourt freezing your pimples off waiting for the bus. Turn right around so that you face the perspex covering. Right accrossthe yard is a door. Walking towards it is another one. The first is a hallway to some offices and you should be able to blag a stand in an adequate shelter. The second door is a hallway to a lecture theatre and furthermore, its got male and female bathrooms, a nice warm radiator and a noticeboard so you can browse some reading matter. Its a much better visibility point. The bus will stop, but if you're concerned why not use a group of smokers outside as a time delay mechanism ? Both doors are unlocked until 8pm.

To the best of my knowledge Wheatley Campus has a similar service with large furnished Common Room right behind the bus stop. Not sure about ease of blagging, or visibility, may be ask a pal to cover a shift on lookout in case the bus drivers get too mercenary. Getting out of Wheatley is a strange experience, rumbling through the village puts you in the place of feeling like a 15ft "Its my city" behometh, trampling landmarks and startling pensioners with a fear they'll be clutched in your arms through the rampage and possibly abducted halfway up Wheatley Tower. There has been some talk on this Facebook group (amusingly titled, 'Petition to remove Wheatley Village from the U1 route') of re-routing the U1 around the village, much as the service was a few years ago. The proposals are easy to implement, commonsense and mean that only the Wheatley Villagers who want to catch the bus have to put up with a small walk through these narrow streets. Lots more details on that link. Lend them your support in a bit of student activism.

Tomorrow I'll be talking about the death of Obscene, and some of my reasons for doing this blog. If you have any stories, or information you'd like to share please get in touch with me at brookeswatch@googlemail.com, and do spread the word amongst your friends. Leave a comment too, even if its only 'i think yore sexie', cos its v welcome.